TNAG-1023-FCO40-1273-Visits-by-officials-from-Hong-Kong-to-the-UK-1981 — Page 35

VISIT. 026/1 никочо

Reference..

File

26

CONFIDENTIAL : ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE

Rozg

Mr Williamson Miss Brett Rooks

Mr McQuade o/r

No

Masi

Origin Copyfor This by ior: 016

Information only / Action on

HONG KONG: VIEWS OF ATTORNEY-GENERAIPara(s)

1. I had lunch with Mr Griffiths today. He concentrated on three points:

a) The poor quality of police officers.

He maintained that

a considerable part of the problem lay in the junior ranks, many of whom were simply incompetent. He saw the need for a considerable increase in recruiting from outside. maintained that insufficient priority was being given to this question.

He

b) Judicial appointments: Mr Griffiths commented in general terms on the poor quality of the judiciary (particularly at District Court and Magistrate level). He said that no improvement could be expected until salary scales were raised and judicial salaries divorced from the Civil Service grade system.

c) Dismissal of public servants known to be corrupt but

not convicted: Mr Griffiths said that this problem, on which we have had considerable correspondence with Hong Kong, was attracting increasing attention from the Unofficials who were likely to exert pressure over it in the near future. In Mr Griffiths' view, it was unjustifiable for senior police officers and civil servants to remain in employment when they were known to have committed offences, even if they could not be prosecuted. The FCO were seen as being obstructive

over this.

2.

Mr Griffiths developed the latter point to argue that people in Hong Kong (by which he meant mainly the Unofficials) were in general becoming increasingly fed up with FCO 'interference' in Hong Kong affairs. I said that in fact direct interference, particularly under the present Government, was very slight. It had to be borne in mind that because of the constitutional position, Ministers did remain answerable for Hong Kong affairs in Parliament and thus they had to keep an eye on matters.

I also said that there was a counter danger of people in London becoming fed up with what were regarded as excessive demands by Hong Kong.

3. On (a) above, I think that Mr Griffiths probably under- estimates the seriousness with which the Governor regards the position in the Police. I would, however, be grateful to see the complete sheaf of recommendations made by Sir James Crane following his inspection in February and to know where we stand on action on these.

4. On (c) I understand that Mr Rushford is considering a possible formula which might help Hong Kong over dismissals. grateful to know the position.

I should be

CODE 15-77

10 August 1987

CONFIDENTIAL· ADMINISTRATTOM

T N